# Reconfigurable Gathering Spaces
In the Assembly of Lovers Debuts as a Modular Installation

By Amy Duong | Published 2026-02-10 | Tech
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/in-the-assembly-of-lovers
References: [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sumi_v/?hl=en)

![Reconfigurable Gathering Spaces](https://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/600/in-the-assembly-of-lovers.jpeg)

The In the Assembly of Lovers installation is a site-specific architectural work by Sumayya Vally commissioned for the inaugural Art Basel Qatar in 2026. The project draws from historic gathering spaces across the Muslim world, referencing courtyards, riverbanks, marketplaces, and the majlis as social and spatial precedents. These influences are translated into a modular structure designed to shift and adapt over the course of the fair.

Constructed using plywood and micro-cement, the installation is paired with an eight-channel sound work that activates the space through voices and ambient audio. The structure is intended to be reconfigured daily to host conversations, performances, and collective encounters. Rather than functioning as a static pavilion, the installation operates as a living framework shaped by use and participation. The project emphasizes shared presence and architectural memory, positioning gathering as an evolving cultural practice within the contemporary art context.

Image Credit: Art Basel Qatar